This was the day I was to replace the stops and supplies under the kitchen sink. (More fun than golf!)

What should have taken 1 hour turned into 4 hours and a flooded kitchen floor. (Good thing we have a ceramic tile floor!)

The job started out fine. I had 3 stops to replace. After about 20 minutes, I had the old ones off and 2 of the 3 new ones installed.

Things are going well...so far.

I installed the third one and turned the water back on. 2 out of 3 stops had slight leaks which is not too unusual for compression type valves. You just gently tighten them till the drip stops.

But...not in this case.

I couldn't get the drips to stop to save my life so I sent the wife to the store to get another valve. She returns with another one and I install it. It leaks, just differently from the first one!

Now I'm pissed!

I try loosening the compression nut slightly to make sure the ferrule is seated properly and suddenly the whole goddamn valve blows right off the pipe. Let's say it's a damned good thing the kitchen floor needed washing! Lol!

To make a long story short, I send the wife to the store for yet ANOTHER valve. While she's gone, I get the bright idea to mix and match parts of the previous 2 valves and, VOILA!, now they work.

So...the wife gets back, we clean things up, (she is a great plumber's helper) and I go to wash my hands in the sink. I finish and turn the water off and would you believe hot side faucet valve fails and I can't close the hot water!!!

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

I woke up to a sewer block involving the kitchen sink. Had to resort to a drain snake to resolve that. Then 2 out of 3 water shutoffs under the sink failed so the dishwasher didn't work and I am now the interim dishwasher. Lol! Damn good thing I'm a plumber!

After all that, I managed to throw out my back again. Good thing I was able to find it before the garbage truck came! (Hate it when that happens!)

At least I made it to the Doctors appointment on time. Dr K is happy with the progress of things. He was actually able to find a vein and do the blood draw himself. He says I have &quot;terrible&quot; veins.
We'll know the PSA values in a couple of days.

*Small sip*

Broiled flatiron steaks tonight for both me and the woman. We deserve it!

Monday, April 08, 2013

It is now official after all these years. Are y'all ready for this? My official, tested typing speed is a blazing thirteen (13) words per minute!!!
Now it should be clear to all why it usually takes me so long to respond, lol!
It actually seems to speed up slightly when I'm drinking which means I probably should never get a job at a newspaper!

*Sips a bourbon &amp; water*

It's been rainy and very windy here today. Really feeling it in the old joints. At least it's warm. If it was cold like back east, I'd have real issues. Actually, it's 58&ordm; outside right now.

*Stares blankly at screen*

The cat is, once again, trying to steal our dinner. He is turning into a furry little pain in the ass in his old age (kind of like his daddy).
He'll get right up on your lap and take a bite off your fork if you let him, the little bastard!

I probably mentioned that I get my next PSA tomorrow. I am scared, as usual, to hear the results. I'm trying not to dwell on it too much.
I am going to ask Dr K for a realistic prognosis for the long term and see what he has to say. He tends to be an optimist, by his own admission. Let's hope he has reason to be!

Saturday, April 06, 2013

Well, we had a real nice session with the ladies at the shooting range Thursday night. The Desert Rose Program seems to be finally coming together at last!
Here's a link if you're interested:
http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/basf_classes.shtml

Went to Cabela's today for four hours to represent Game and Fish at 'Ladies Day'. We get a free lunch out of it so it's worth our time. The wife even bought me a couple of tee-shirts so I guess she isn't too mad at me, Lol!

BTW: I HAVE NOT forgotten about responding to the supportive comments I've been receiving from you guys. I WILL respond but I've been INCREDIBLY lazy lately so give me a few days.

We're going to try and just veg out for the rest of the weekend. I've get to decide if I'm ready to get back on the diet on Monday. That will require that I stop drinking completely for at LEAST a few weeks. The week I get my latest PSA may be a poor time to try to do that. We'll see.

Wednesday, April 03, 2013

No health or medical news except that I get the PSA done this Tuesday, not Monday.

Just got a notice from our HOA (Homeowners Association) that we have weeds in the yard. Well Duh...where ELSE would they be???
Looks like I need to do another 'Roundup' treatment. Thank goodness for Monsanto! Hahaha...I kill me!

We're coaching at the range tomorrow night and then working a booth at Cabela's on Saturday. That's usually fun and we get a free lunch!

The wife seems to be in a &quot;You've done something wrong but you have to guess what it is&quot; type mood. Nothing too serious, I hope. Probably just the fact that I haven't done jack shit all day today. I don't blame her!

She has been concerned that I haven't &quot;been happy&quot; lately. After 20 years, I'm a little surprised that she hasn't picked up on the fact that I'm NEVER &quot;happy&quot; in the way most people think.
If you've ever seen the movie 'As Good AS It Gets', with Jack Nicholson, you'll understand what I mean.
My so-called &quot;happiness&quot; would be the same whether I was married to her or any one else. This has already been demonstrated. I've been married four goddamn times!
There is no position in life where I would be in any better shape. It is simply the type of person I am and nothing will ever change that. It DOES NOT mean that I don't love or care about the person I'm with. It's just that I'm not happy in the popular sense even if I get everything my way!
Aside from everything else, she makes me feel very loved and even important. How many can lay claim to THAT?

Monday, April 01, 2013

My last entry, Observations, apparently caused some concern among my followers (all three). I thought I had lost you and I was depressed.
I can be a first class ass at times and this was one of them.
I was looking for attention and I got it. I DID NOT mean to seek attention at the emotional expense of others!
Your immediate responses came as a welcome surprise. I feel like a jerk for being such a whiner all the time.

Believe it or not, I think about all of you daily, wondering how your lives are going.

I have not been posting much lately, mainly due to the fact that there haven't been many changes in my health, thank goodness! I continue to be mildly obsessed with my quarterly PSA tests but that is not something that's going to change.

On the home front, we just upgraded our range and dishwasher. How exciting!!! We went to one of those new fangled glass/ceramic top electric ranges which we love. Our old, standard one lasted 16 years so I guess it was about time. The dishwasher, we got free from one of our neighbors down the street who decided to upgrade. It's a Kenmore and works great! :)

The wife is waiting for me to help her &quot;poke the cat&quot;. He is 15 years and needs sub-q fluids. I also have not eaten dinner yet (just bourbon)so I need something in my tummy! Beans and franks tonight! (Gas manyana!)

About Me

My name is Dave Robbins aka Featherboy.
I am middle aged (63), retired and reside in North Phoenix, Arizona with my wife Karen of 24 years and our beloved 19 year old cat, "Pumpkin".
I enjoy hunting, fishing, firearms, photography, computers, medicine, blogging, good food, strong drink, good weed and life in general.
I admit to being a bit reclusive but at least I'm friendly. ;)
If anyone wishes to contact me, they may do so at: cpltaiji@gmail.com

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Why Do I Write This Stuff?

In June of 2012, I had the unfortunate luck of developing stage 2-c prostate cancer.

I was also one of the ones who failed surgery and radiation. Although still in it's very early stages, it is not in remission and is on my mind a great deal of the time.

This blog (or journal) is pretty much my way of trying to deal with the disease, my emotions and fears, the process of growing old and eventually...dying.

I am by no means a great writer. I simply hope that by sharing my thoughts as they come to me about what I am going through, I might provide a modicum of comfort or insight for those in similar situations who choose to read this material.